CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT: MUSIC AS A UNIQUE TOOL FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN EMEKA NWABUEZE'S ECHOES OF MADNESS

Abstract

Drama is an indispensable instrument for social commentary. The dramatist does not write just to express ideas, rather plays are written to inform, educate, or even to entertain. Effective communication is a paramount objective of every playwright. Hence every playwright strives to devise a means of communication that would be most effective for his or her target audience. This paper examines the use of music for effective communication in EmekaNwabueze's Echoes of Madness. Using the analytical method of qualitative research, the paper explores how Nwabueze, in the play utilizes music to pass his message across to the target audience. The paper discovers that music can be used in place of words to communicate effectively in a play text. It then concludes that music is an essential element for a better understanding of a drama text. The paper, therefore, recommends that playwrights should use music in their plays to aid the audience's understanding of the plays.

Keywords: Communication, understanding, effective, audience.